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The Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (VCSCS) located within the DCJS Division of Law Enforcement reflects Virginia's commitment to providing safe and productive learning environments for all students and staff in our schools today. The VCSCS is a resource and training center for information and research about national and statewide school safety efforts and initiatives.
The VCSCS was created through Virginia Code § 9.1-184. and is mandated to provide training for Virginia public school personnel, serve as a resource and referral center for Virginia school divisions, collect and disseminate information on school safety initiatives and school safety data, among other things.
The path towards academic excellence should be free from the fear of crime and violence. Through the VCSCS, schools and communities have access to proactive trainings, topical resources, public-private partnerships, data collection and evaluation, and an annual school safety conference. Thank you for your interest in the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety. We hope that this site serves you well in your school safety efforts. For additional information, please contact us.
The School Safety Audit for 2012-13 will include a Secondary School Climate Survey for students and teachers in grades 7 and 8. The survey is a new component of the annual school safety audit which school divisions are required to submit to the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety (VCSCS), according to 22.1-279.8.B of the Code. Please view the introductory video from the Secretary of Public Safety and Secretary of Education on the survey website at https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/vcscs/audit/student/
Donna Michaelis, Manager, School and Campus Safety
Shellie MacKenzie, School and Campus Safety Training Coordinator
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
1100 Bank Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact the Director
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Director's Bio
Deputy Director's Bio
Human Trafficking
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Forfeited Asset Sharing Program
Blueprints for Change: Criminal Justice Policy Issues in Virginia
Strategic & Service Area Plans
Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission
Integrated Justice Program


text:
ColorMaster™ Enamel Paint
with durable Covermax® technology for premium coverage and brilliant color.
with durable Covermax® technology for premium coverage and brilliant color.
A premium spray primer that seals and protects for maximum coverage.
Dual Paint + Primer in One. One can. One Step. For a great finish that lasts like you primed it.
The revolutionary No-Prep, Superbond Paint for Plastic® now makes painting plastic possible.
The revolutionary No-Prep, Superbond Paint for Plastic® in rich textured finishes.
Primes art surfaces quickly & thoroughly, so you're ready to go in 15 minutes.
Taking glitter to the next dimension. A uniquely intense, sparkling glitter finish so it's easy to get an irresistible look on almost any surface.
A premium spray paint with the ultimate ease and control.
A premium spray primer that seals and protects for maximum coverage.
Covers and seals out stains completely for long-lasting protection and uniform final coat.
Produces a high-gloss factory-like finish on projects inside and out.
Textured paint enhances any home décor item with the look of stone.
From a football field to home landscaping, Mark-It adds durable, bold lines and marks.
Great for any job, All Surface enamel provides superior coverage on almost any surface.
Rust Protector™ Enamels provide direct to metal corrosion protection and dry in 8 minutes or less to a tough finish that really lasts.
Rust Protector™ Rust Preventative Primers provide extra corrosion protection for bare and painted surfaces.
Rust Protector™ Textured Finish is a textured paint that resembles a factory finish.
Rust Tough® sprays directly onto metal surfaces to stop and prevent rust.
Fast dry finish in a small can that's perfectly sized for small projects.
Wisps of color spray on fast and easy to recreate the elegant look of marble.

subset: commoncrawl


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Notice of Student Rights with Respect to Education Records
SPSU includes the following within the definition of Directory Information:
Students who wish to have their directory information withheld must notify the Registrar's Office in writing. (Please note that such a notification will prevent SPSU from providing your directory information to your friends, prospective employers, professional organizations, and others with whom you may wish us to share such information, so make your decision carefully.) You may give such notification at any time, but it will be effective only prospectively. Students who do not wish to have their address (or other information) published in the student directory must notify the Registrar's Office.


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AçıklamaThis App contains best selection of the most popular iphone ringtones.top rated cool melodies and popular tunes you will love. Can be used as ringtones, notifications or alarm sounds. You will love this selection of popular SMS sounds. Enjoy these cool ringtones!
Tags:Popular ringtone,SMS ringtone,3D ringtone,Cool SMS ringtone,android ringtone,Music,Top ringtone; tone;sms tone


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A year after the Gators finished last in the SEC in passing, junior quarterback Jeff Driskel said he is "a ton more" confident in Florida's ability to throw the football this season.
The 10th-ranked Gators will enter Saturday's season opener against Toledo dealing with injuries, a retooled defense, includuing a new coordinator, and looking to replace record-setting placekicker Caleb Sturgis.
But the fortunes of Florida's passing game will be the key to the 2013 season.
Driskel, now in his second season as a starter, said the Gators have plenty of reasons to expect improvement.
"Another year in the offense, know the routes and the receivers better," Driskel said Monday. "Also, the receivers know what they're doing a lot better. It's everyone working together, not just one person.
"Just being comfortable."
Florida averaged just 146.3 passing yards last season, yet were able to win 11 games with a solid running game, excellent defense and opportunisitic special teams.
But the Gators' run game will be without tailback Matt Jones and guard Jon Halapio for a game or two and must replace seven defensive starters and Sturgis.
Driskel and the offense will have to carry more of a load and make more big plays a season after wide receivers made just nine receptions of 20 yards or longer in 13 games.
"We've stressed making the big play this offseason and we've shown it in camp," Driskel said. "We did it in summer so we really want it to show up in the first game."
The continued emergence of redshirt junior wide receiver Quinton Dunbar and the arrival of freshman wide receiver Demarcus Robinson are expected to give Driskel two quality targets.
Cornerback Jaylen Watkins saw a difference during preseason camp. Last summer, he said he, Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy owned the Gators' wideouts.
"They won some of the battles this year," Watkins said.
The Gators offensive line also is deeper and strong, said Driskel, who was sacked 36 times in 2012.
Driskel's blindside should be in better hands with sophomore D.J. Humphries, who will replace Xavier Nixon.
"He's gained a lot of weight since the offseason," Driskel said. "The whole summer I saw him with peanut butter and jellies in his hands. That was good. But he knows what he's doing. He's athletic. He's a big-time player.
"It's hard to start as a true sophomore at left tackle at an SEC school. That kind of speaks for itself."
On Saturday, all the talk about Florida's improvement in the passing game will end. The Gators will have their first chance to prove it.Email Edgar Thompson at email@example.com. Read the Swamp Things blog at www.orlandosentinel.com/swampthings. Follow our UF coverage on Twitter @osgators.


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Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce & Development Company
116 Market Street, Suite 103
Vermillion, SD 57069
Chamber Business:
Attention Chamber Members! If you serve the USD student community please join us for the Coyote Bash Thursday, Sept. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. in Downtown Vermillion at Ratingen Platz. The Coyote Bash is a partnership between the Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce and the University of South Dakota which welcomes back USD students and introduces incoming freshmen to the product and service offerings of the community. This year, it is being held in conjunction with Thursdays on the Platz. Making the students aware of all we have to offer improves retention, maintains a strong customer base and keeps retail spending local. Don�t miss this great opportunity to build loyalty and a relationship with your customers from day one by setting up a table to introduce and promote your business to the new students. For more information or if interested in setting up a table, please contact Ann at the Vermillion Area Chamber & Development Co. at 624-5571 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Business After Hours: Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase your business and network with your peers? Sign up to host a Business After Hours event! These events generally run from 5 to 7 p.m. on a weeknight and the hosting business provides hors d�oeuvres and refreshments. If interested, please contact Ann at: email@example.com or at 624-5571.
Join in the 2011 Tanager Volunteer Day, Tuesday, Sept. 20. Students will be participating in a full day of work from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students will work in groups of 14-17, but the groups can be adjusted if needed. Please dare to challenge Vermillion students � many things can be accomplished in a short time. The students enjoy cleaning, painting, vacuuming, planting trees, scrapping paint, or almost anything. If you know anyone that could use a little help with gardens, windows, or just a visit please contact Lenni Billberg @ firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Does Your Company Undervalue Privacy?
Carol Bartz Relates Her Time, Conflicts at Yahoo
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Please click this link to view the video on the original site.
Carol Bartz discusses her time as CEO of Yahoo, her conflicts with the company's board and how best to communicate in business.
|Morgan Stanley CEO: I Care Deeply About How Employees Feel
|Sina CEO: Weibo Has 'Big Room' To Expand In China
|SanDisk CEO: We're Gaining Substantial Momentum
|Intel CEO: Enterprise Stronger Than Consumer Right Now
|SAP CEO: We Beat On The Cloud And Revenue
|AutoNation CEO Supports Tesla's Direct-Sales Model
|Mercedes CEO: Fighting For Every Car
|GM CEO Mary Barra Speaks At Auto Event
|MakerBot CEO: 3D Printing Empowers People To Innovate
|Coca-Cola CEO: We Are Getting Our Momentum Back
|WPP CEO: Buzzfeed, Google Are Disrupting Advertising Business
|Shaquille O'Neal On Being A CEO Athlete
What's the biggest cause of wasted resources in nearly every company today? The answer might surprise you. According to the Harvard Business Review, most people spend countless hours at work doing a job that no one hired them to do: managing their reputations and hiding their inadequacies from...
Almost 70% of senior managers say "the overwhelmed employee" -- bombarded with information and interruptions all day long -- is an "urgent" or "very important" drag on productivity, according to the 2014 Human Capital Trends Study from Deloitte Consulting. A constant stream of interruptions all day...
After years of scraping along during the recession and in the sluggish growth years that followed it, small businesses will enjoy improved sales and profits this year and the best pace of growth since 2007.
Entrepreneurs often make poor decisions about hiring and staffing because they are stuck in crisis mode: They need help immediately. Stephen R. Covey popularized this notion with the "Urgent/Important Matrix" in his 1994 book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. With this matrix, Covey...
When you read a business book or attend a presentation on a particular management practice, it is a good habit to explicitly ask, "What might it not be good for?" When might it not work; what could be its drawbacks? If the presenter's answer is "there are none," a healthy dose of...
Millennials are also known as Generation Y, Generation We, the Boomerang Generation, the Peter Pan Generation, Generation Waking Up. Refer to them as you wish, but know this: Talented individuals from this generation will be leading your team in the not-so-distance future.Believe it or not, you...
To succeed in business you must assume a working personality that supplants your own, at least in part, while you grow on the job. Those who do not have a functional business persona distinct from their "true" personality either go mad or become the CEO.
Henrique de Castro, who was fired in January as Yahoo's chief operating officer, was paid handsomely for his largely unsuccessful efforts to turn around the company's flailing advertising business. Based on the proxy disclosures, Marissa Mayer, chief executive of Yahoo, didn't make out nearly...
Like every startup entrepreneur, Rodney Nelson needed a great website. Woolly Pocket, the company he was building with his brother, Miguel, aimed to sell its cleverly designed, eco-friendly wall planters online. But there were problems.
When an employee has the courage to give you negative feedback, you need to accept it as a gift.It's tough to receive negative feedback, but as a leader you must treat it as if it were a fine wine. Once the cork is out of the bottle, you need to identify its nuances and understand its valuable...
As entrepreneurs, we crave a challenge. It's a critical component of peak performance because it provides stimulation. Without it, when we get too comfortable, we are bored, which can be the death of motivation and creativity for an ambitious business owner. Pushing yourself out of your comfort...
With organic reach and engagement numbers plunging on Facebook, marketers are doing everything they can to stay ahead of the game before the social platform goes to an exclusively pay-to-play model. This infographic shares a few pointers to help boost your engagement.
Technology innovation and the power of data analytics present tremendous value, but also new challenges. While a digital economy requires businesses to rethink priorities and practices, this doesn't have to be a burden. Instead, privacy protection should be a practice as fundamental to the...
If you're at all familiar with the nature of marketing, you know the importance of constantly evaluating and evolving your strategy to stay competitive in your industry. Chances are, you've been paying more attention to customer experience, digital data, measurement, and various forms of content...
Successful innovation is a matter of attitude and practice, not of size. There is nothing sacred about being an entrepreneur--many will fumble around without hitting a spark of genius. Large companies? Some manage to keep churning out new products and technologies on a regular basis.
The company showed that business is good, delivering stronger than anticipated earnings results. PepsiCo PEP reported $12.6 billion in first quarter net revenue, flat from the same quarter in the prior year but ahead of Wall Street analysts' $12.4 billion estimate. "We're pleased with our...
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Welcome to Denver, where 300 days of sunshine, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, and natural beauty combine for the world's most spectacular playground. A young, active city at the base of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Denver's stunning architecture, award-winning dining and unparalleled views are all within the walking distance from the 16th Street pedestrian mall. Upscale shopping awaits in Cherry Creek, while Denver's seven professional sports teams entertain year-round.
The past comes to life at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. More ›
Get ready for a fun, long weekend, including the FREE Denver Day of Rock. More ›
Denver's bike sharing system will take you on a two-wheel adventure. More ›
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This free community event celebrates the music, culture and history of More ›
The best urban tour around! Run the mile high course that takes you on and off More ›
Denver Day of Rock is a free one-of-a-kind music event presented by More ›
The Denver Chalk Art Festival on Larimer Square is a two-day street-painting More ›
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Seller Response:
We are extremely sorry you felt this way about our service especially as we did respond & also sent another item. The item was dispatched, however, it was lost in the post & therefor outwith our control. We hope our customers will understand that we did all we could. With apologies.
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By David Hench
Staff Writer
KENNEBUNKPORT — The state Medical Examiner's Office is doing tests to determine whether bones that washed up on an island off Kennebunkport during last weekend's blizzard are those of two boat-building students who were last seen Dec. 19 in Kennebunkport.
A resident who was walking a dog Sunday afternoon found the remains on the southern side of Vaughn Island, which is at the mouth of Turbot's Creek, said Kennebunkport Police Chief Craig Sanford.
The Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that the remains are human, Sanford said, but it probably will have to use DNA analysis to determine whether they are the remains of Zachary Wells, 21, of Burlington, Vt., and Prescott Wright, 23, of Barnstable, Mass.
Although the identity of the remains has not been confirmed, no other people have been reported missing in that area.
"I did talk to the family and notify them that remains were found," Sanford said. "I can't say they are, in fact, either of their sons."
He said, "They already had funeral services and memorials. I can only imagine it must be very heart-wrenching."
Wells and Wright were last seen drinking with friends at a gathering at Wells's house near the Cape Porpoise pier on Dec. 19.
On Christmas Eve, searchers found items that they believe belonged to the men on a ledge near Goat Island, which is off Trott Island near Cape Porpoise.
The items included two life jackets, two pairs of jeans, a jacket, a sweatshirt and footwear. They were found about three-quarters of a mile from the back side of Vaughn Island.
The search, which involved people and dogs on the ground, airplanes, and boats with sonar, was called off Dec. 26.
Sanford said it is remarkable that the remains might have stayed near the shore, rather than washing out to sea.
They were found above the high-tide mark, suggesting they were deposited there during the storm, which generated 25- to 30-foot seas and caused flooding during high tide, Sanford said.
Although the case has remained open, both families have held funerals.
They gathered at The Landing School on Jan. 12 for a memorial service with the men's classmates and the school's staff.
"We were able to memorialize the boys and move on from there," said the school's president, Robert DeColfmacker. "Our plans are to continue whatever we can do to support the families and move on as a school community here."
Family members, notified by police about Sunday's discovery, asked for privacy Monday.
David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:
In this file photo, Maine Warden Service Sgt. Tim Spahr searches the water near near Goat Island Lighthouse off Cape Porpoise on Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. The remains of Zachary Wells and Prescott Wright may have washed ashore during the weekend blizzard.
© 2014 The Portland Press Herald - All Rights Reserved.
MaineToday Media
One City Center, 5th floor, Portland, ME 04101-5009
(207) 791-6650


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Kick back, relax and get into a beach bummin' mood! This Homefires Beach Sandals Sand Rug will have you smelling the cocoa butter and hearing the waves in no time. Squish your toes into the hand-hooked construction and dream of the soft sand under your feet! Quality made for years of use, this Rug is the perfect special accent to cover that blank area on the floor in the living room or to bring life to that bedroom that's feeling a little bare.
The perfect solution for your boring-floor problem:
Bring your room to life! Order ONLINE Today!
Please Note: These items are shipped directly from the factory. To see the expected shipping date, please add to your Shopping Cart. Sorry, no express shipping available. We are unable to ship factory direct items to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or APO or FPO addresses.
Homefires Beach Sandals Sand 3x5' Rug
Homefires Beach Sandals Sand 5x7' Rug
Homefires Beach Sandals Sand 8x10' Rug
Homefires Beach Sandals Sand 28x90" Rug
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WriteGirl Book Launch of "No Character Limit" at Mark Taper AuditoriumLos Angeles, CA
Bummer! Sales have ended.
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer on sale.
Event Details
Join WriteGirl for bold voices, celebrity guests, delicious desserts and a celebration of limitless creativity.
January 12th only special event price for No Character Limit: $15.00.
WriteGirl Book Launch of No Character Limit: Truth & Fiction from WriteGIrl
Saturday, January 12th, 2012
Creative Writing Session 1:30 p.m. with Special Literary Guests
Book Launch and Reading 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Central Library – Mark Taper Auditorium
630 West 5th Street (Between Flower and Grand)
Downtown Los Angeles, California 90071
Parking is available at 524 South Flower Garage ($5 for two hours)
All proceeds from sales of the book go directly back to WriteGirl, helping to support creative writing and mentoring for hundreds of girls.


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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month - In the United States April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). During SAAM activists raise awareness about sexual violence and educate communities and individuals on how to prevent it.
Get Involved
Learn More | Join the Association
Subscribe to Forensic Nurses News
The Foundation Scholarship Program provides financial assistance for members and other forensic nurses around the world who might otherwise be unable to attend the organization's annual International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science and Practice. Deadline April 22nd, apply today.
40-Hour Online Training Program with access to optional onsite clinical skills simulation training. Begins May 2014
Reserve a room now for the 2014 International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science and Practice. Registration scheduled to open June 2014.
Do you have a group of 5 or more RN's (3 in a rural setting)?
Contact the Membership Director at email@example.com to find how much you could save off a Bundled Membership for your team.
Copyright © International Association of Forensic Nurses 2014. All Rights Reserved.
Phone: +1-410-626-7805+1-410-626-7805
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Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Boston Celtics Bavarian Beer Gift Set
Price: $65.95
- Additional Details
- Dimensions: 11.5 x 10.4 x 4.5
- Includes: Chalices, bottle opener, and foam scraper
- Made Of: Natural wood pine
The Boston Celtics Bavarian Beer Gift Set is a complete beer accessory kit. The solid natural wood pine box is engraved with a Boston Celtics team logo. It has san ornate fastening clasp and a luxe satin interior, perfect for displaying its contents of chalices, bottle opener, and foam scraper. A classic encounter into the world of beer, this Boston Celtics Bavarian Beer Gift Set is the ideal gift for any Boston connoisseur.
- Dimensions 11.5 x 10.4 x 4.5 inches
- Two 16-ounce glass chalices
- a brushed stainless steel foam scraper with wooden handle
- A solid brushed stainles steel bottle opener
- Engraved team logo <
- Officially licensed NBA product
Customer ServiceEasy Returns:
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Eligibility guidelines
Organizations that meet the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Google for Nonprofits program:
- Based in the United States, England, or Wales. Learn about offerings in other countries here.
- Registered as a charitable organization with the IRS or the Charity Commission for England & Wales. Organizations must be listed in the online database of the IRS or the Charity Commission for England & Wales for Google to verify their eligibility.
Details for US organizations
- Organizations must be recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations formed for charitable, educational, religious, literary, scientific, or other tax-exempt purposes. For more information, see How to Apply for Charity Status.
- Organizations that rely on the group 501(c)(3) exemption of a central ("umbrella") organization can apply to Google for Nonprofits as a "related organization."
- Organizations, such as churches, that are automatically considered tax-exempt must still obtain recognition of 501(c)(3) tax exemption from the IRS to qualify for the Google for Nonprofits program.
- Organizations must be recognized by the Charity Commission for England & Wales as charitable organizations with demonstrated public benefit. For more information, see How to Apply for Charity Status.
- Only one Google for Nonprofits membership per registration is allowed for charities registered with the Charity Commission for England & Wales.
- Not one of the following:
- Governmental entity or organization
- Hospital or health care organization
- School, childcare center, academic institution, or university (philanthropic arms of educational organizations are eligible). To learn more about Google's programs for educational institutions, visit Google in Education.
Google reserves the right to grant or deny an organization's application or participation at any time, for any reason, and to supplement or amend these eligibility guidelines at any time. Selections are made at Google's sole discretion and are not subject to external review.


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NDSU researchers team on $1.8 million energy beet DOE grant
In North Dakota, researchers at North Dakota State University are part of a consortium along with Plant Sensory Systems and the USDA who have received $1.8 million, three-year grant from the DOE to develop enhanced energy sugarbeets.
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EDIT: Visit www.sikhiart.com/for-sale/battle-of-chamkaur/ for further details of the painting and close-up shots
Hey everyone! This is another painting I am working on in my Sikh History series.
This part of the Battle of Chamkaur depicts Baba Ajit Singh pouncing upon the mughal forces, about to breath his last breath.
Baba Ajit Singh is surrounded by enemies, he's trying to stay alive while taking out as many as he can. He's gona be sweating like crazy, with a red face and pumped up muscles. He's gona have torn clothes, a few arrows and bullets stuck in this body, cracked armour, blood everywhere and a spear or a sword pointing at him from every direction, and it's just a matter of time, before one of those dismembers or even kills him! ...
Info on the battle:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chamkaur
Info on Baba Ajit Singh:http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?t...ada_Ajit_Singh
Again, being inexperience in battle scenes, I turn to God of War 2 concept art, in an attempt to gain some skill and experience painting war.
So again, I welcome all criticism!
EDIT: Sahibzada (Prince) Ajit Singh's horse has been seriously wounded, forcing Ajit Singh to fight on foot. The young Prince, after being wounded himself, notices a Mughal cannon being readied for the seige. He charges the infantry that guard it. Some high ranking Bhumi militiamen and Cavalrymen see his strategy and rush to the spot...
The story of course is based on an actual event where Guru Gobind Singh's oldest son (Ajit Singh) volunteered to defend the small fortress they were in. The Mughal army had surrounded it, and there seemed to be no escape. Guru Sahib was sending Singhs in fives to keep up the defense. Inside the fortress, many Singhs prepared themselves for death, and many defended the fort with showers of arrows, along with the Guru.


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Sometimes chronic conditions are treated with several medications, including prescription, over-the-counter, dietary or herbal supplements. Taking multiple medications (called "polypharmacy") can increase the risk of drug duplication, interactions, adverse side effects, and cost.
Our Polypharmacy Program offers three great tools for members taking five or more chronic medications:
If you have any questions about this program, call the Customer Service number on the back of your ID card.
Disclaimer: Some links above take you off the Premera site and open a web site in a new window. The links are offered to you for your own use and convenience. All representations and warranties, if any, regarding the information provided thereon are solely those of the Web site publishing it. Premera makes no claims, promises, recommendations or warranties regarding any of the information available.


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Our United Statesby James B. Kracht Deborah Gray White Juan R. Garcia Daniel J. Gelo Linda L. Greenow
Look around you--at your city or town, your county, your state, your country. Just by looking, you can tell that the United States is a land of great variety. Your community is not exactly like any other community in y our state. And your state does not look just like the state next to it.
Our United States: Volume Iby Juan R. Garcia Daniel J. Gelo Linda L. Greenow James B. Kracht Deborah Gray White
The book contains Land and People, Exploration and Colonization, War and Independence, Expansion and Conflict, Growth at Home and Abroad, Into the Twentieth Century, and Modern Times.
Social Studies: Communities Around Usby Juan R. Garcia Daniel J. Gelo Linda L. Greenow James B. Kracht Deborah Gray White
This book is built up on four themes viz., Learning About Communities, Different Kinds of Places, Communities Yesterday and Today, People and Citizenship. Also included are Maps, Time Line, Graphs, Tables, and Diagrams, Skills and Literature for optional reading.
Select your download format based upon: 1) how you want to read your book, and 2) compatibility with your reading tool. For more details, visit the Formats page under the Getting Started tab.See and hear words read aloud
- DAISY Text - See words on the screen and hear words being read aloud with the text-to-speech voice installed on your reading tool. Navigate by page, chapter, section, and more. Can also be used in audio-only mode. Compatible with many reading tools, including Bookshare's free reading tools.
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- Read Now with Bookshare Web Reader - Read and see images directly from your Internet browser without downloading! Text-to-speech voicing and word highlighting are available on Google Chrome (extension installation required). Other browsers can be used with limited features. Learn more
- DAISY Audio - Listen to books in audio-only mode with the high-quality Kendra voice by Ivona pre-installed. Navigate by page, chapter, section, and more. Must be used with a DAISY Audio compatible reading tool.
- MP3 - Listen to books in audio-only mode with the high-quality Kendra voice by Ivona pre-installed. Navigate using tracks. Can be used with any MP3 player.
- BRF (Braille Ready Format) - Read with any BRF compatible refreshable braille display; navigate using the search or find feature.
- DAISY Text - Read with any DAISY 3.0 compatible refreshable braille display, navigate by page, chapter, section, and more.
- Embossed Braille - Use Bookshare's DAISY Text or BRF formats to generate embossed braille.


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Muffee's Comments
(3) comments by Muffee
Status Update (1)
Any hint that the reward from the new fishing contest might be the pet shark that's been lurking in the background for a while?
Posted: October 21, 2009 3:31:00 AM
Additional Comments by Date (2)
1-2 of 2
Re: Lunar LanternAm looking to trade my alliance lantern for a horde version on Stormrage EU if anyone wants to save themselves the 10k plus people are charging!
Posted: January 27, 2012 10:37:26 AM | Edits: 0 | Rating: -2
Re: LumpyFYI: you can pick the quest up at the snowman but still have to go to Ironforge to hand in. Four chars and no Lumpy. I'd like to see Blizzard do away with RNG for seasonal things and just give tokens for dailies so that people can choose from a selection of items, or at the very least make them all BOU. Would mean a lot fewer disappointed collectors. Even with the low drop rate some people have ended up with more than one they can't use while others have spent Christmas a bit fed up.
Posted: January 01, 2012 8:46:06 AM | Edits: 0 | Rating: -1
1-2 of 2


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Joined 15th September 2008
Melanie hasn't written a snapshot yet.
I just want to be able to do everything in my power to keep my husband and son happy and feel like I have accomplished this on a daily basis. I want to figure out what I am going to do with my life now that I have had a child.
Accomplishing my life goals while adapting to being a wife and mother. My life goal is to open my own little bistro/cafe one day.
Trying to find a job which is proving to be quite complicated considering I am not sure that I want to return to work.
No comments yet.
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Celebrate the holidays and change of seasons with these charming little treats that are not always what they appear to be.
Whether as a snack or a delicious dessert, these sweet treats will get everyone in the holiday spirit.
From classic holiday pies to a cake that looks like a turkey, find the perfect desserts for your family this Thanksgiving.
There's no sweeter way to say "Be Mine" than with this collection of Valentine's Day cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other treats.
Cooler autumn weekends bring on hearty appetites. From crafty cakes to tasty custards and cupcakes, satisfy any sweet tooth craving with Spoonful's collection of favorite fall desserts.
Enjoy fun monster crafts and recipes sure to bring out your inner ghoul.
Sweet treats will put a smile on anyone's face even on cold winter nights.
Send a heartfelt message with these tasty treats or sweet crafts for Valentine's Day.
You don't need luck to find great St. Patrick's Day crafts and recipes - this gallery is full of fun ideas.
Whether you're hosting a party or celebrating the luck of the Irish with your own little leprechauns, these delicious St. Patrick's Day treats won't disappoint!
Make one of these sweet and colorful treats to celebrate spring.
Score big with sporty kids! From baseball to motocross, discover 17 fun recipes that your family will surely love.
We can never have enough cupcakes. Find the perfect treat with fun and delicious cupcakes from A to Z!


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Classic Allure Save the Date Cards Simple, classic save the date card. I was actually expecting more of a matte finish. It actually has a glossy finish but it still looked awesome anyways. I wouldn't change a thing. Loved this product.


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Parents of little tykes starting out in kindergarten this year have likely received a package with an orange T-shirt and spiral booklet.
It's not a novelty gift, but rather, district officials hope, an overture in a long conversation about their child's education, development and successful graduation into the next phase of their life.
"We know that anytime schools, teachers and parents work together as a team, student learning goes way up," said School Board President Sharla Hales. "We wanted to do our part in that team work."
The program, called "Graduation Begins in Kindergarten," may seem like a stretch. But …


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No Central Florida schools stand atop their classification for the FHSAA's Academic Team Champions standings after the fall sports season, but several are among the top 10.
Dr. Phillips stands third in Class 8A. Harmony is second and Oviedo is third in Class 7A. First Academy is second in Class 3A, Orangewood is fourth and Trinity Prep is sixth. Geneva is fourth in Class 2A.
Standings are based on the cumulative GPAs of students on teams at each school.
Joe Williams is a senior sports writer for the Orlando Sentinel. You can contact him at email@example.com


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1507 W Hwy 6, Alvin
We are here working and was looking for a place to shoot pool and have a drink. They have three pool tables so that was good, the patrons were friendly but beer only. The bartender…
2007 S Gordon St, Alvin
if your feelin down and you need a buddy.... MY PLACE... if you miss your friends .... MY PLACE.... if you play pool ... MY PLACE... if you need a beer .... MY PLACE..... if it's…
2005 S Gordon St, Alvin
This is not a place for out-of- towners. Be Careful. I had a bad experience and I am from here. It was so bad that I want never go into another bar as long as I live!!!
507 N Gordon St, Alvin
Never Again!!!
I am a regular customer and the pizza is usually great but tonite It took 10 different plates to get one clean one. Mentioned dirty plates to manager and did not…
2200 Highway 35 Byp N, Alvin
This is a business for our community - it has no respect for its neighbors. The music is so loud, we can hear it in our bedroom 3/4 of a mile away.
1701 Fairway Dr, Alvin
My small party and I went on a Saturday when it was not very busy. However, we had a hard time getting the one, sole waitress' s attention at times.
The food was presented as…
1518 Highland Dr # 2, Alvin
2770 E Highway 6 # 3, Alvin
1300 E Highway 6, Alvin
116 Depot Centre Blvd, Alvin


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Property Rights in the United States - Event Audio/Video
2007 National Lawyers Convention
November 16, 2007Alex Kozinski, Stephen Reinhardt, James S. Burling
The following audio and video were recorded on November 16, 2007.
Property Rights in the United States 11-16-07
Running Time: 00:59:17
[ Full Audio]
The Federalist Society's Environmental Law & Property Rights Practice Group presented this debate at the 2007 Annual National Lawyers Convention on November 16, 2007.
This debate will be published by the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review in the spring of 2008.
12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.
East Room
Environmental Law: Property Rights in the United States
- Hon. Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- Hon. Stephen Reinhardt, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- Moderator: Mr. James S. Burling, Pacific Legal Foundation
Mayflower Hotel
Washington, DC
[Return to the main event page]


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Faculties & Schools
Our faculties and schools utilise world class teaching and research facilities to deliver quality outcomes.
- School of Accounting, Economics and Finance
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Engineering and Information Sciences
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- School of Physics
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LAW, HUMANITIES AND THE Arts
Science, Medicine and Health
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
- School of Biological Sciences
- School of Chemistry
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute
Social Sciences
The University of Wollongong has undergone a Faculty restructure. View the final approved faculty and school names - January 2014 or visit specific Faculty sites.
View the UOW Organisational Chart.


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Sheets & Rolls
3M™ Softback Sanding SpongeFlexible foam pad enables user to sand hard-to-reach areas such as headlight openings, around door handles, door jambs, etc. Helps to eliminate finger marks and can be used wet or dry.Starting at: $70.75Add to Compare
3M™ Wetordry™ Paper Sheet 413QA silicon carbide sheet constructed on an A weight light paper backing. Can be run wet or dry. Primary markets: metalworking, woodworking.Starting at: $24.00Add to Compare


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- April 21, 2014
- Why Energy is Catching the Market's Eye
Over the last month the energy sector has outperformed the market, and as you can see in the chart below, has done so by 6.5 percent. Year-to-date the sector is beating the S&P 500 Index by over 3 percent.
In a spectacularly performing market during 2013, energy lacked some of the incredible performance seen throughout the other sectors, but recently it has turned up, catching the attention of the market yet again.
What's causing this sudden shift in relative strength?
As our Director of Research John Derrick describes in our recent video on the Periodic Table of Sector Returns, it is not unusual to see sectors move from top to bottom from one year to the next. For example, energy ranked as one of the top-performing sectors from 2004 through 2007, but quickly lost momentum in 2008 when it was hit the hardest after the financial crisis. In 2012 and 2013 energy turned in some solid numbers, but lagged in comparison to the other sectors.
In looking at an overview of market performance, it's important to recognize what caused the moves. For example, one reason the energy sector is climbing back up, could be due to the broader market rotation that we've noticed recently, from growth stocks to value stocks.
Growth stocks are generally successful companies that are expected to continue growing their earnings, usually at a rate that outpaces the market, causing investors to pay more for them. Value stocks rarely outpace the market as much as growth stocks do. Investors see potential in buying these cheaper names, ones that trade at lower price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios than the S&P average, because they still have the potential to significantly outperform over time.
As I mentioned, in the past few weeks high-growth names have pulled back, while value names are steadily gaining momentum. One of the main reasons for this rotation is that some investors view the valuations of growth names as too high, especially in comparison to the value companies.
What's significant is that many of these value names happen to be in the energy sector. We've taken advantage of this shift to value in our Global Resources Fund (PSPFX) through names like Pacific Rubiales and Valero Energy.
Although this rotation is important to the recent moves in energy, it is not the only factor driving the sector up. Take a look at the price of oil and natural gas.
Currently natural gas prices are starting to stabilize while the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is up by 4 percent year-to-date, reaching $104 a barrel just last week. This price increase in WTI is linked to concerns over future supply, but nevertheless higher oil prices bode well for stocks within the energy sector.
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), short-term projections for the price of WTI remain relatively high. Additionally, the group commented that, "Aside from seasonal issues, the EIA expects strong crude oil production growth, primarily concentrated in the Bakken, Eagle Ford, and Permian regions, continuing through 2015. Forecast production increases from an estimated 7.4 million barrels per day in 2013 to 8.4 million barrels per day in 2014 and 9.1 million barrels per day in 2015." This projection is good for North American producers and service companies.
So how can you gain entry into this energy opportunity?
The portfolio managers and I continue to stay focused on companies that show robust fundamentals and are located in sectors showing strength. Currently, within our Global Resources Fund (PSPFX), we are capturing the latest takeoff in the energy sector through our exposure to companies that are reasonably valued. In addition to the two I mentioned previously, if you look at the fund's top 10 holdings you will also see our investments in large-cap names like Schlumberger Ltd, EOG Resources and Halliburton Co.
Are you ready to energize your portfolio? I believe a well-diversified portfolio includes exposure to natural resources. In fact, I was just in Tirana, the capital city of Albania, where I have had the opportunity to expand my tacit knowledge by visiting several resource companies.
I am excited to share my journey with you this week when I return home!
Please consider carefully a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. For this and other important information, obtain a fund prospectus by visiting www.usfunds.com or by calling 1-800-US-FUNDS (1-800-873-8637). Read it carefully before investing. Distributed by U.S. Global Brokerage, Inc.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Foreign and emerging market investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and less public disclosure, as well as economic and political risk. Because the Global Resources Fund concentrates its investments in a specific industry, the fund may be subject to greater risks and fluctuations than a portfolio representing a broader range of industries.
Fund portfolios are actively managed, and holdings may change daily. Holdings are reported as of the most recent quarter-end. Holdings in the Global Resources as a percentage of net assets as of 03/31/14: EOG Resources 2.37%, Halliburton Co 1.87%, Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp 0.25%, Schlumberger Ltd 3.46%, Valero Energy Corp 0.29%.
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. The S&P 500 Stock Index is a widely recognized capitalization-weighted index of 500 common stock prices in U.S. companies. The S&P 500 Energy Index is a capitalization-weighted index that tracks the companies in the energy sector as a subset of the S&P 500.
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- April 15, 2014
- Tick, Tock, Tax Time
In 2014, Americans will pay $3 trillion in federal taxes and $1.5 trillion in state taxes. Believe it or not, according to the Tax Foundation, that means more of your income is being spent on taxes than on food, clothing and housing combined!
Ever wonder where that money goes? My friend Terry Savage points out this interesting graphic of just how the federal government spent your tax dollars.
Time to Pay Up
In fact, today marks the official deadline for taxpayers to file their 2013 returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) without penalty, lending a sigh of relief to many that the process is over, but leaving others still in panic mode.
Changes in the IRS tax brackets from 2013 to 2014 were minimal for the most part, with many Americans remaining in their same income bracket.
As I wrote about earlier this year, what's interesting is to see exactly how much the different income brackets are paying in taxes. Did you know the top 1 percent of American income earners pay increasingly more in taxes than the bottom 90 percent? In 1980 the bottom 90 percent paid about half, compared to less than a third in 2011.
Our Tax Table Handout details the 2014 tax rates and brackets, along with information about savings and retirement plans. If you are unsure where you fall, I encourage you to take a look, especially at deferral limits.
Tax Freedom Day
Whether or not you are celebrating the completion of your tax filings today, there is yet another tax-related date to mark on your April calendar. April 21, known as Tax Freedom Day, is only six days away.
This day signifies when the United States, as a whole, has earned enough money to pay its tax bill for that specific year, says the Tax Foundation. According to the group, the determination of whether the taxes are paid, and thus what day Tax Freedom Day lands on, is based on a formula that divides federal, state and local taxes by U.S. income.
Although April 21 marks the Tax Freedom Day of the entire United States, each and every state has its own Tax Freedom Day as well. To simplify this, your state's Tax Freedom Day is the day when residents of your state have worked long enough to pay all tax obligations at the federal, state and local level.
This depends on a variety of factors, but mainly relates back to the individual state's tax policies as well as income brackets.
For example, in Texas, we have already reached our Tax Freedom Day which landed on April 13. Has your state reached its Tax Freedom Day yet? Check out the Tax Foundation website to learn where your state falls on the calendar.
The later your state's Tax Freedom Day, the more money income earners are paying in taxes. Unfortunately this also means that the later the date, the less money taxpayers are able to save and reinvest in their communities.
Alleviating the Tax Burden
Understandably, "tax talk" isn't the most popular conversation around the dinner table, but understanding the rules and knowing where your money goes, is important.
Don't be overwhelmed by the big picture. One way to alleviate the tax burden is through investing in municipal bonds. At U.S. Global Investors, our Near-Term Tax Free Fund (NEARX) invests in municipal bonds with relatively short maturities.
In addition to monthly dividend income exempt from federal taxes, the fund has a track record of growth over time and is highly rated by Morningstar.
Remaining educated and curious about federal and local taxes, and knowing your options when it comes to investing, can help you prepare each time April rolls, especially when the clock starts ticking towards tax time.
Please consider carefully a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. For this and other important information, obtain a fund prospectus by visiting www.usfunds.com or by calling 1-800-US-FUNDS (1-800-873-8637). Read it carefully before investing. Distributed by U.S. Global Brokerage, Inc.
Bond funds are subject to interest-rate risk; their value declines as interest rates rise. Tax-exempt income is federal income tax free. A portion of this income may be subject to state and local income taxes, and if applicable, may subject certain investors to the Alternative Minimum Tax as well. The Near-Term Tax Free Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that pay taxable interest. Income or fund distributions attributable to capital gains are usually subject to both state and federal income taxes. The Near-Term Tax Free Fund may be exposed to risks related to a concentration of investments in a particular state or geographic area. These investments present risks resulting from changes in economic conditions of the region or issuer.
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. By clicking the link above, you will be directed to a third-party website. U.S. Global Investors does not endorse all information supplied by this website and is not responsible for its content. The information in this post does not constitute tax advice and is provided for informational purposes only.
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- April 14, 2014
- We're Shuffling the Cards on Our European Play
Did you know that over the last year the Greek stock market is up roughly 45 percent? The country that many believed would never recover from a six-year recession is now making astounding strides, recently being added to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index at the end of 2013.
As I've witnessed new strength from this "comeback country," along with a rise in foreign investment into emerging markets as a whole, our investment team is currently strategizing to adapt our game to new European plays. Here are the game changers we see:
Greece Wants Back in the Game
Last week, Greece returned to the international markets with a five-year bond sale, quickly topping $4 billion according to Bloomberg. The yield on these bonds is a little under 5 percent, an attractive number in comparison to other countries' currency bonds. Greece has been shut out of the bond market for roughly four years now, but I believe the country's reentry last week is an imminent sign of recovery.
In the Investor Alert on March 28, we highlighted another indicator of Greece's recovery. The Greek 10-year bond yields are back down to 2010 levels and the country's economy is expected to grow by 1.1 percent this year. These conditions have boosted consumer confidence and allowed Greek banks to recapitalize, changing the lending landscape in a credit-starved nation.
A recent Reuters' article discussed the Greek bond sale stating that, "It would not only raise confidence in Greece's ability to fund itself and aid its recovery, but it also offers Europe the chance to claim its widely-criticized crisis medicine of tough cuts and austerity was necessary, and ultimately successful."
In fact, last October our Director of Research John Derrick expressed his confidence in the country during a time when most investors wouldn't offer Greece a second look. He said the country's current account situation could move from a deficit to a surplus in 2014. As it stands now, several strong economic signs are pointing to John's positivity on the country, including the fact that Greece hit a surplus before 2014 even began, as you can see in the chart below.
One way we are playing these powerful signs within our Emerging Europe Fund (EUROX), is through Greek banks such as Alpha and Piraeus. These banks recently recapitalized, and with the Greek banking industry now consolidated to only four major banks, these names are poised to benefit from the economic recovery.
The Cards Are Stacked Against the Russian Investment Case
I have always believed that government policies are a precursor to change, and witnessing the drama with Putin in the Russian corner of the globe, I think now is a perfect time to shuffle our investment deck and underweight our portfolio to the country. We noticed economic growth in Russia beginning to slow in 2013, with few identifiable, positive catalysts, but the recent geopolitical tension with Ukraine was the final indication of an undesirable shift.
Since the breakout of conflict between Russia and Ukraine, investor confidence has dwindled in the area, and as you can see in the chart below, the two countries directly involved in the clash are the ones showing the highest market-risk impact.
Towards the end of 2013 I wrote that European equities had seen the longest streak of inflows in over 11 years, as investors began noticing this area of the globe as a spectacular investment opportunity. In addition to many strong areas in developed and emerging Europe, several of these equities were in Russia, and continue to be in Russia. Despite the disorder and our decreased exposure to Russia, we still see resilient stocks with growth opportunities. Two examples of strong Russian names include Norilsk Nickel, a nickel and palladium mining company, along with an Internet company, Mail.Ru.
When it comes to actively managing a portfolio, it's all about playing your cards right, and at U.S. Global Investors we seek to manage risk while pursuing opportunity for our shareholders.
Turkey's Turnaround
Greece isn't the only country returning to the Eurobond market. Last Wednesday, Turkey sold 1 billion euros of nine-year bonds for the first time this year. The bonds, which will mature in 2023, should help the country with financing needs for the remainder of 2014.
Investors showed particular interest in Turkey's bond issue, but have also started looking to the country as a prime tourist destination. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, recently jumped 11 spots to take this year's No. 1 position on TripAdvisor's Traveler's Choice list of global destinations, according to CNN.
Passenger growth in Turkish airports is taking off, seeing year-over-year growth of 15 percent in both international and domestic passengers. Additionally, Turkish Airlines flies to more countries around the world than any other airline! No wonder people love to visit this country. One way we capture this strength for our European fund is through a Turkish airport operator, TAV Airports.
In fact, I too will be participating in this outstanding growth when I travel to Turkey next month. U.S. Global is inviting all curious investors to take part in this exciting trip as well! I encourage you to read about the opportunities we will be exploring in Turkey straight from the experts.
So inspite of Turkey's underperformance last year, the country is up 10 percent year-to-date, and over the past decade Turkey's economy has more than tripled. Consumer confidence is back on track and the long-term, secular growth story remains intact.
Follow the Money
I believe the European recovery is a story worth telling, and within our Emerging Europe Fund (EUROX) we use our investment model to lead us not only to the strong and stable countries in this emerging market, but also to the strong sectors within each country. As Western Europe continues to recover, we believe companies with robust fundamentals in emerging Europe provide leverage to this growth. Explore this opportunity to invest in companies we believe are playing their cards right.
Please consider carefully a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. For this and other important information, obtain a fund prospectus by visiting www.usfunds.com or by calling 1-800-US-FUNDS (1-800-873-8637). Read it carefully before investing. Distributed by U.S. Global Brokerage, Inc.
Fund portfolios are actively managed, and holdings may change daily. Holdings are reported as of the most recent quarter-end. Holdings in the Emerging Europe Fund as a percentage of net assets as of 03/31/14: Alpha Bank AE 1.98%, Mail.Ru 0.00%, Norilsk Nickel 0.00%, Piraeus Bank SA 2.34%, TAV Havalimanlari Holdings Inc. 0.75%.
Foreign and emerging market investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and less public disclosure, as well as economic and political risk. By investing in a specific geographic region, a regional fund's returns and share price may be more volatile than those of a less concentrated portfolio. The Emerging Europe Fund invests more than 25% of its investments in companies principally engaged in the oil & gas or banking industries. The risk of concentrating investments in this group of industries will make the fund more susceptible to risk in these industries than funds which do not concentrate their investments in an industry and may make the fund's performance more volatile.
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in the global emerging markets.
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- April 10, 2014
- What India's 815 Million Voters Have on Their Minds
India has kicked off the world's largest election this week, with its national elections that will run from April 7 through May 12. The second-most populous country, India is home to 1.2 billion people. The size of the voting population is a staggering 815 million.
The election will decide the parliament and ultimately determine the next Prime Minister of the country.
India is a fascinating country that I have written about many times in relation to gold's Love Trade. The love for gold is a cultural phenomenon that is shown in gifts given for weddings and festivals, and the idea that one's wealth is defined by ownership of physical gold jewelry and coins.
In my travels I have seen this love for gold first-hand, and witnessed the vast population that makes up the energy of India. Did you know that half of India's population is under the age of 25? This youthful group makes up 600 million people, equating to twice the population of the U.S.!
India's young population cares about jobs and economic opportunities. This will likely be the focus on their minds when they go to the voting polls. The candidate who seems favored to win the office of prime minister is Narendra Modi, of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi has a complicated past, with connections to violent, sectarian events. But as The Economist describes him, he is also known as "a man who, by his own efforts, rose from humble beginnings as a tea-seller." This boot-straps tale resonates with the voters who are reaching to improve their own economic situations.
Modi is known as a business-friendly candidate. In his home state, he has a history of being open to foreign investment, and has pursued economic relationships with Europe and the U.S.
Over the past decade, a great shift has taken place in India. Urbanization trends show that about half of the population lives in urban areas. Although official government definitions of rural and urban areas don't quite match what we think of in the West, the trend shows that the number of urban dwellers could double in the next 25 years.
Urban dwelling usually is paired with an increase in wealth as city residents have more regular incomes. We've seen this increase in wealth with the rise in cell phone usage in India and television ownership. Now, 65 percent of Indian households own a TV set. With Internet-enabled phones and televisions, the people are connected and share ideas across the country.
These people are striving for the American Dream. As I've mentioned, every American born will need whopping 2.9 million pounds of minerals, metals and fuels in their lifetime. When you think about babies born in India, aspiring to the American lifestyle, you can begin to recognize the implications for resources demand in this part of the world.
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. By clicking the links above, you will be directed to third-party websites. U.S. Global Investors does not endorse all information supplied by these websites and is not responsible for their content.
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- April 7, 2014
- What's Abuzz About Gold?
Recently I visited the breathtaking city of Hong Kong to speak at the seventh-annual Mines and Money conference, Asia-Pacific's premier event for mining investment deal-making and capital-raising. During my time in Asia I had the additional privilege of addressing the audience of the Asia Mining Club, alongside my good friend Robert Friedland, Executive Chairman and Founder of Ivanhoe Mines.
Asia Still Wants Physical Gold
The mission of the Asia Mining Club is to promote education among its members, and one way to achieve this is by hearing from experts in the financial markets, notably those focused on resources and commodities. During the club's sell-out event, I too, confirmed a great deal about the commodity "buzz" on that side of the world, especially on gold.
The demand for the precious metal in Asia is truly phenomenal! In smaller countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, consumption of gold totaled 300 tonnes in 2013, and according to Bloomberg, in 2014 mainland Chinese buyers purchased a total of 125 tonnes in February (including scrap). This number tops the 102.6 tonnes purchased in January and 97.1 tonnes purchased a year ago.
As I wrote about in February, Switzerland plays a role in the movement of physical gold into Asia as well. Home to many of the big gold refiners, Switzerland released monthly gold trade data this year for the first time in over 30 years, with the report showing that 80 percent of shipments went straight into Asia. If we continue to see these large movements of the physical metal, especially from the West to the East, it's only a matter of time until these supply-and-demand factors lift the gold price.
Is Janet Yellen Yelling?
I often say there are two sides to the gold equation: the Love Trade and the Fear Trade. While Asia's cultural affinity for gold continues to feed the Love Trade, concern over government policies which increase inflation and devalue currencies, fuel the Fear Trade. The Fear Trade demanded attention again on the back of Janet Yellen's talk of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in the next six months.
While low interest rates make it less expensive to borrow money, measures to keep rates low also chip away the value of the dollar and cause concern of accelerating inflation. Once real rates start rising, gold isn't as attractive to those who trade on fear.
As I've written about recently, a key driver in gold prices is the real interest rate environment—the real rate of return taking into account the level of inflation. When real interest rates are negative to low, gold prices historically turn positive because there is no opportunity cost to hold the metal. The lower the real rates, the better gold tends to do. So, Yellen's initial hint of rising rates sent gold prices falling.
On Friday the March U.S. jobs number came in at 192,000. While the number is in line with expectations and clearly shows that hiring in the U.S. is rising, it fell a bit short of the 200,000 jobs projected. The number was just enough of a miss to disturb investor confidence and drive some to seek refuge in hard assets, spurring the price of gold again.
BCA Research believes that after Friday's report, the current pace of employment will be sustained. Although the movement is gradual, hiring is going up.
BCA continued by commenting that,"The data will underscore the Fed's view: that the need for quantitative easing or other non-conventional tools is waning, but that there is no rush to normalize interest rates."
In my opinion, even with job numbers in line with expectations, the Fed is still going to focus on long-term job creation and keeping interest rates low, or at least not rushing to normalize them as BCA research stated. If inflation starts to rise while these rates are low, we could see a higher movement in the price of gold.
The Osisko Deal is Sweet and Sour
Another headline-maker for gold last week was Yamana Gold's purchase of 50 percent of Osisko's mining assets. I think our Portfolio Manager Ralph Aldis said it best in a recent BNN interview with Howard Green regarding the takeover; "This deal is both sweet and sour."
The sour part is that by our models, which look at relative value of assets, it appears that both Osisko and Yamana are paying too much on this deal. On the flip side, the sweet part is that this bid caused companies like Mirasol, Pretium and SEMAFO to immediately rise. The structure of the entire deal is a complicated one, but witnessing these stocks finally waking up, is a change in the sentiment for the gold sector that, in my opinion, needed to be seen.
At U.S. Global Investors we are always watching for opportunity, while concurrently managing risk. Along with the "sweetness" of the Osisko deal, I find additional encouragement for the broader commodities space, as well as for gold, from Stifel Nicolaus' Barry Banister. His strategy for the second quarter of the year is that we may see a one-year rally in commodity-related stocks.
Based on the breakout of the Continuous Commodities Futures (CRB) Index, along with the movement in the U.S. dollar, he forecasts that commodities could rise 15 percent year-over-year in 2014.
HFT: The new buzz word
High Frequency Trading became a household word overnight when bestselling author Michael Lewis gave an interview to 60 Minutes in advance of his new book, "Flash Boys." Lewis' allegations of high frequency trading practices that result in a rigged stock market have prompted a firestorm of support from Charles Schwab to Mark Cuban.
I agree with Schwab, chairman of Charles Schwab Corp., who said "high frequency trading has run amok and is corrupting our capital market system by creating an unleveled playing field for individual investors and driving the wrong incentives for our commodity and equity exchanges." I'm glad to see this issue getting the attention it deserves.
From short selling to overreaching regulation, over the years I've shared my opinions on practices that harm individual investors and create unjust advantages in our free market system. I believe that investing is key to long-term wealth creation and that investor confidence in the system is key to capitalism.
The first quarter of the year has certainly provided surprises for the gold market, but remember that every coin has two sides. Every downward data point has an upside opportunity. Follow the smart money, stay diversified and remain a curious investor.
p.s. Don't miss my new show on Kitco. Each week I'll talk about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the gold market on Gold Game Film.
All opinions expressed and data provided are subject to change without notice. Some of these opinions may not be appropriate to every investor. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The Continuous Commodity Index (CCI) is a broad grouping of 17 different commodity futures, which is a benchmark of performance for commodities as an investment.
The following securities mentioned in the article were held by one or more of U.S. Global Investors Funds as of 12/31/13: Goldcorp, Mirasol Resources Ltd, Osisko Mining Corp., Pretium, Resources, Inc., SEMAFO, Inc., Yamana Gold, Inc.
Diversification does not protect an investor from market risks and does not assure a profit.
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April 15 2014 BOOKLIST
April 2014
Find more Hit Man
When you've published more than 100 novels spanning five major series characters over the course of 55 years, you're entitled to think long and hard about hanging it up. If retirement's good enough for Philip Roth, why not you?
Yet when Lawrence Block tells me, regarding potential future book projects, "I think I may have run out," I feel the urge to protest.
We're having lunch on a beautiful spring afternoon in one of the prolific crime writer's West Village hangouts, Café Loup. Meanwhile, not too far from where we are filling up on oysters and hamburgers, Liam Neeson is filming A Walk among the Tombstones.
That's right, the actor known for fighting vicious wolves with his bare hands onscreen, when he's not wiping out international kidnapping rings, is playing Block's greatest character, the recovering-alcoholic and unlicensed-PI Matt Scudder, in a film version of his tenth series entry (out of 17—or 18, if you count the recent short story collection The Night and the Music, which you should).
And then there's Block's latest novel, Hit Me, fifth in the series featuring Keller the hired killer, which comes to us in the form of linked short stories and which debuted in March at number 28 on the New York Times best-seller list. How can Block, even at the age of 74, think about walking away when he still has so many fans who savor his work and A-list actors bringing it to life?
"My career is coming to a close really," the author says simply. But then nothing is ever that simple with Lawrence Block. "I'm not worried that people won't buy it," he continues, musing on the prospect of a future novel. "It's a question of whether or not I have something that I want to write or I'm able to write.
"I hope there'll be another book sometime somewhere along the line," Block adds. "I don't know that I miss writing, but I think I'll miss having new books come out."
Block hastens to mention that he has a couple of projects in the pipeline, including Catch and Release, a collection of short stories from Subterranean Press and a reissued novel. If you follow Block's blog, Telling Lies for Fun and Profit—and all fans of crime fiction and wry stories of the writing life should—you know that the author has been spending significant time in recent years tending to his back catalog, signing deals for reissues, and publishing his own e-book editions.
In fact, he might be the best executor of an author's estate that I've ever seen—with the twist being that the author in question is still alive. This observation elicits the lunch's biggest laugh.
"It's gratifying to see the old works enjoy a new life," Block admits. "I just play it by ear and see what works and what doesn't. The whole landscape of writing and publishing has changed to an astonishing degree, and the change continues. Anybody who tells you what it's going to be like in six months is nuts." On the other hand, he adds, "It's easier than it has ever been for any kind of book to find its audience, however large or small that audience may be."
As he's explored the world of online publishing, Block has even released e-book editions of erotica titles he used to write under various pen names. The process has led to several lively and entertaining blog posts on that aspect of his career.
"With a lot of the early pseudonymous stuff, I really took comfort in the fact that it had not been printed on acid-free paper," Block says with a chuckle. "I was willing it to go away. But sooner or later ego and avarice trumps just about anything . . . Still, it's a slow way to get rich."
Clearly, Lawrence Block contains multitudes. But is there a character that's patterned more closely than any other on Block himself? The conversation turns to Keller, a hit man given to extended discursions about stamp collecting and other potentially less-than-thrilling subjects that Block somehow turns into page-turning narratives, even for those of us who know nothing of philately.
"I remember when Hit Man came out," Block says of the first Keller book, published in 1998. "Peter Straub told me that he thought Keller in his internal monologues and musings sounded more like me than any of my other characters. Could be. I don't know."
One side effect of having written everything from hard-boiled crime to lesbian erotica (Getting Off: A Novel of Sex and Violence, which Block wrote as Jill Emerson and which Hard Case Crime reissued under his name last fall) is that some readers who come to Block via a particular series can find themselves surprised, sometimes unpleasantly so, when they crack the cover on one of his other works. So why is he now embracing his racier early work?
"Part of it is not giving a damn, but another part is no longer feeling that it's my job to judge my work," Block says. "And who am I to say that someone else might not like it? My mother—and she was about 10 years younger than I am now when she made this observation—said the one thing to be said for getting old is every year there are a few more things I just don't give a shit about."
One thing Block did care about was 2003's Small Town, his most ambitious book of the past decade. It was, as he notes, still a New York–set crime novel, but it was a big book, told from multiple viewpoints, and the plot involved some kinky sex. It sold respectably well, and it succeeded from a critical perspective, but it didn't have the impact one would have hoped.
"The publisher didn't do very much" to promote it, Block says. "It might have been a tough sell. I don't think the sex got in the way. But it was funny. On that book, I got a lot of outraged e-mails from readers. They didn't expect this, and it really upset them. And that didn't bother me. I mean, there's a reason we have a delete key on the keyboard, but the reaction surprised me a little. And then I realized that a lot of these people picked up the book hoping to read about an amusing burglar and his cat." (That last bit alludes to Block's long-running Bernie Rhodenbarr series.)
"I figured, that's all right," Block continues. "Books find the people who are supposed to read them. But that book—for many years I've had the urge to write a big New York novel with as much of the city as I could manually stuff in it. I started the book and wrote a sizable chunk—80 or 100 pages. And then 9/11 happened. Suddenly the world, and especially New York, was a different place. I thought, well, you know, it's a game changer, and I think I can throw the book away. I didn't know where to go with it. A little time passed, and then I thought, well, there was nothing wrong with most of the stuff I wrote. Maybe it could be a novel. And I didn't want it to be about 9/11, but having it set in the ashes of 9/11 seems to have made it work. So that's how it got written. I'm pleased with the way it turned out."
As were most readers who came to it expecting something a bit darker than a comic Bernie Rhodenbarr caper. Small Town also underscores how important Block is as a chronicler of New York City. Its evolution from the rough-edged 1970s, when Matt Scudder lived in one of Manhattan's now-long-gone SRO buildings, to the increasingly gentrified twenty-first-century city run as a nanny state for the entitled by billionaire mayor Mike Bloomberg, has been well chronicled by Block in the Scudder series especially. He is better at giving readers a visceral experience of his city than perhaps any other living novelist.
"It has always been the property of New York to reinvent itself constantly," Block says, which has given him a wealth of material from which to draw over the years. "The city has always changed. I first came to the Village in the mid-1950s, and there were people there then who said this was really a good place 15 years ago. And through reading, I discovered that there was never a time when people here weren't saying it was better 15 years ago.
"But I think it must be very difficult for anybody to start out and come to New York nowadays because you can't afford it. I could come here and be making virtually no money and could find a way to live in the Village, the Upper West Side, or anyplace, really. Now not so much. Now you have to either have shared an apartment among half a dozen people or go so far into the outer boroughs as to make it inconvenient."
Still, Block takes the long view: "I suspect there's a way to do it, and I think people will continue to do it because the city has always attracted people who were looking to do something. From the first time I came here, this was where I wanted to live. Even though I've gone away briefly a couple of times, this has always been home."
The conversation returns, inevitably, to the question of whether Block is really ready to pack it in as a writer. He said at the time that he thought 2005's All the Flowers Are Dying would be the last Scudder novel. And then came last year's wonderful A Drop of the Hard Stuff, which details a previously unexplored chapter from Scudder's early days of sobriety and brings the seedy New York City of that period vividly back to life.
So, never say never? "It's hard to look at my list of work and worry that I've left things unsaid," Block says. I mention that I'm partway through the latest Keller, Hit Me. I know he and the woman who hires him for his jobs have one rule: they will never murder a child. Wouldn't it be interesting to explore what would happen if they were forced to bend that rule? I ask. Block nods minutely in response.
I leave Café Loup thinking that I might just have given one of my favorite authors inspiration for a new story. But a few weeks later, while on a plane to Los Angeles, I finish the book. It ends with a story about what might happen if Keller were forced to bend his one hard-and-fast rule. I pay $7.50 to purchase an hour's worth of in-flight Internet access.
"And here I thought I was so clever suggesting a story about hitting a kid," I tell him.
"I did my best not to react visibly when you made that suggestion," he responds.Indeed he did. So perhaps Lawrence Block really has said all he has to say. But I hope not.
Frank Sennett is the author of Groupon's Biggest Deal Ever (St. Martin's, 2012) and a longtime Booklist contributor.


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Wednesday, April 23, 2014
By STEVE FEENEY
LEWISTON – A large crowd turned out Wednesday night to spend some time with a lively septuagenarian who will soon be inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
WHO: Bob Dylan with Dawes
WHERE: Androscoggin Bank Colisee, Lewiston
DATE REVIEWED: Wednesday
At one point, the esteemed gentleman offered a historical discourse on the "Early Roman Kings." But the nasty, hard, amplified blues riff it rode on was far from academic.
The aforementioned honoree was, of course, Bob Dylan.
For his latest visit to the Pine Tree State, the legend from Minnesota offered a small selection of the many songs he's written over a long career. Blues was definitely a factor, though, perhaps because of the presence of guitarist Duke Robillard, a new addition to the band.
Dylan's last visit to the venue was a general admission event. This time the seats were reserved, but neither Dylan nor the crowd were reserved as the master and his band told musical stories, often about tough lives lived and evil ways unchecked.
Especially impressive this time was his harmonica playing, which got some of the loudest applause of the evening. On "Beyond Here Lies Nothing," he stood center stage, legs slightly apart, and blew a haunting line that was about as good as it gets.
Dylan, otherwise alternated between center stage and setting up behind his keyboard. From there, he appeared to call an audible at one point, as the band broke into a rousing version of the rockabilly tune "Summer Days."
For oldies, he offered "Tangled Up in Blue" and "Visions of Johanna." But the best moments came on the newer tunes. "Scarlet Town" and the mysterious "Pay in Blood" were powerful.
The California-based band Dawes opened the show with a brief set. Some may remember them as part of last summer's Mumford & Sons extravaganza in Portland.
Though they're sensitive about being labeled retro, it was hard not to think of older classics when hearing songs like "From a Window Seat," a gem of a tune off their just released disc "Stories Don't End."
Though when listening to his singing voice you may feel compelled to offer him some tea and honey, Bob Dylan's story also seems not ready to end anytime soon.
-- Steve Feeney is a freelance writer who lives in Portland.


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The new entry level Porsche Macan, shown alongside the new Boxster and Cayman GTS at the...
Scottsdale auction results: Video wrap-ups recount total sales
Now that the 2012 Scottsdale collector-car auctions in Arizona have come to a close, our friends at Hagerty Insurance have wrapped up all the numbers from the auctions in their latest edition of "Hagerty Classic Car TV."
In this episode, host Rob Sass, author Colin Comer and publisher Dave Kinney explore the 2012 sales figures and take a closer look at some of the more memorable vehicles, including a 1948 Tucker Torpedo and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL alloy Gullwing.
Check out the video for all the details.
Get more car news, reviews and opinion every day: Sign up to have the Autoweek Daily Drive delivered right to your inbox.


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Narrow your search
CNET editors choose and review the best thin and light laptops, notebooks, and ultrabooks.
commentary Devices based on ARM chip designs tend to be thinner, cooler (thermally, at least), and cheaper than those based on Intel designs while offering longer battery life.
Corning, the manufacturer of the resilient Gorilla Glass built into smartphones everywhere, has designed a new type of glass made exclusively to better protect notebook touch screens.
Makers of ultraslim panels and suppliers of touch screens are making it tough for PC vendors to get their notebooks to stores. Still, research firm NPD DisplaySearch sees shipments growing this year.
At CES in Las Vegas, Intel talks about its next-gen chip road-map for PC and mobile computing devices, including new processors powering ultra-thin notebooks and tabletop computers.
The Taiwanese computer maker showed off the Aspire R7 notebook, Aspire P3 Ultrabook, and Acer Iconia A1 tablet during an event in New York.
The company's technology is designed to save a notebook's battery life and enhance the overall performance of those devices.
The Logitech diNovo for Notebooks looks sexy and is comfortable for typing, but it's a pricey upgrade for a keyboard that lacks integrated USB ports and backlit keys.
Global tablet shipments will surpass notebooks by around 33 million units in 2013, NPD DisplaySearch predicts.
The Xtreme Notebooks 917V Accelerator is an unquestionably powerful laptop, but impressed as we are with its performance and 3D frame rates, it's hard to justify the sky-high price. This quad-core laptop seems suited only for those who want a true desktop gaming rig that's still moderately portable.
Pricing not available
Dadi Perlmutter, Intel's chief product officer, also tells CNET that devices running Intel's mainstream Core line of processors could sell for as low as $399 to $499.


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brikguy is a pretty cool guy, eh? Posts weird threads and doesn't afraid of anything!!
Moderators: Almighty Benny, Blitzen, Silent-sigfig
Warhead wrote:Hehe, They say I can pervert ANYTHING!
Warhead wrote:I'll be away this weekend, maybe a little longer. Well it is my Birthday, so don't be surprised if the world ends... or runs out of beer, same thing really.
See yah!
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